Non-Headlines

Yes, I know the difference between weather and climate … even if many in the media and politics don’t. And yes, last night’s heat and the last winter’s brutal cold weather here in Boston mean nothing in the broad sweep of “climate change.” But there are a few data points that give us a hint as to what really is occurring. First, one of the Obama administration's chief global-warming propaganda outlets, NOAA (the other being NASA), has quietly conceded that July, 1936 was the hottest one on record here in the U.S (remember the dust bowl?) … and not July, 2012 … see: Daily Caller Story. And please note, 1936 was before the supposed spike in CO2 levels.

The second interesting data point is that Antarctic sea ice has just reached a record expanse (even if the news media and our fearless leader would have you believe otherwise) … and winter has just begun in the southern hemisphere … see: Watts Up With That Revelation.

But don’t look to the front pages of the New York Times for this information. The stenographers there are too busy copying the White House talking points to consider such news "fit to print.”

Pantomime

A cub reporter in Arizona recently spilled the beans … relating a off-the-record comment from that common streetwalker and White House Press Secretary, Jay Carney, that his daily press briefing is virtually rehearsed … questions being submitted ahead of time and answers returned in writing for the reporters convenience … see: Weekly Standard Story.  After a salvo of arm-waving denials, this poor reporter was given a variety of tasty condiments in order to eat her words … which she promptly did.

Now Sharyl Attkisson, that courageous veteran CBS reporter, who just resigned for being continuously squelched by her network, has verified at least parts of this original revelation … see: Breitbart Story.  Reporters do, from time to time, engage in this kind of pantomime with Jay Carney … making them little more than stenographers (Rush Limbaugh’s term) for the administration’s message.

This all goes to show how closely this and other administrations understandably try to manage the news.  However, what seems to be different today is how milk-toasty the media reporters now appear to be.  Think back to George Bush’s press briefings … was David Gregory reluctant to go after a story hammer and tongs?  Much as I dislike David Gregory’s politics, he was then a good reporter … and was doing his job. Now, reporters who attempt equivalent vigor are either denied access to the White House or are squelched by their bosses … witness Ms. Attkisson.

Perhaps the American public would realize what a farce these daily White House press briefings were if Jay Carney was in white-face and pretended to be blocked by an imaginary piece of glass?